MLB Postseason Preview: World Series Predictions, Odds, Analysis

Today should be considered a national holiday, as Major League Baseball kicks off its postseason with wall-to-wall action, as four series will all be played on the same day!

The first day of the Wild Card round is the perfect kick-start to what is sure to be an October that is filled with thrilling storylines, epic comebacks, and amazing finishes.

Twelve teams are left standing now, but by this weekend, the field will drop to eight. Nothing is better than the stakes that come with playoff baseball, as any team truly has the chance to win it all and take home the Commissioner’s Trophy for winning the 2025 MLB World Series.

To set the stage for all the drama that unfolds, we have got you covered with previews for every series that is about to be played in the Wild Card round. We also polled our staff to see who they thought would win each pennant and who would ultimately win the World Series!

Let’s dive into Just Baseball’s preview of the 2025 MLB Postseason.

Wild Card Round Preview

The new playoff format is still in its relative infancy, with this only being the fourth year that we will watch a Wild Card Round, compared to the old format of only having a Wild Card Game.

Across the first three years of this structure, we have seen the advantage of teams winning the first game of their three-game sets, as every team that has won Game 1 has taken the series so far. That is 12 out of 12; if you win Game 1, you advance.

We have only seen two Wild Card Series even reach three games, with the Mets being involved both times. In 2022, the Padres won Game 1, the Mets took Game 2, and then the Padres won out in the final game, eventually making a run to the NLCS.

In 2024, the Met won games 1 and 3 against the Milwaukee Brewers, prior to going on their run to the NLCS. In the other 10 Wild Card Series that have been played, whoever won Game 1 finished the series in a sweep in Game 2.

This adds an extra layer of importance to today’s slate.

ALWCS 1: Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians

The first game to be played today will be between the Cleveland Guardians and the Detroit Tigers, pitting two division rivals against each other once again.

The Guardians and Tigers are very familiar with one another, having played six of their final 13 regular-season games head-to-head.

Cleveland got the better of the Tigers in those matchups, winning five of six games, which proved to be the difference in a division that was decided via head-to-head tiebreaker.

For their troubles, the Guardians have earned the right to host this series, and the mental edge may be on their side as well.

With that said, the Tigers feel pretty comfortable handing the ball to soon-to-be back-to-back Cy Young Tarik Skubal, giving Detroit a huge advantage in the pivotal Game 1.

NLWCS 1: San Diego Padres vs. Chicago Cubs

The San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs are two teams that have, at times this season, looked like the class of the National League. They also have shown themselves to be inconsistent, which is neither was able to win their division in the end.

Between Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Kyle Tucker, and so many more, this series is packed with star power. One of the biggest stars of the series will be the venue, as Wrigley Field will play host to playoff baseball (with fans) for the first time since 2018.

ALWCS 2: Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees

Do we really need to set the stage more than Red Sox vs. Yankees?

While the rivalry between these teams is not exactly where it was back in the early 2000s, there is always going to be an extra layer of history that adds to any Red Sox-Yankees matchup. Especially when it takes place in October.

The Yankees finished the season riding high on an eight-game winning streak, finishing even with the Blue Jays atop the AL East. The Blue Jays owned the tiebreaker, though, which gave them the bye and put the Yankees in the Wild Card round.

As the top Wild Card seed, the defending American League champions will get to host the Red Sox in this series, but Boston is feeling really good about being able to send Garrett Crochet to the mound, even against Max Fried.

NLWCS 2: Cincinnati Reds vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

A modern-day version of “David vs. Goliath”, the Cincinnati Reds are massive underdogs to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in this series.

The Dodgers are the defending World Series champions, featuring a roster of future Hall of Famers and All-Stars that carries the expectation of a deep playoff run. The Reds are just happy to be here, having made the playoffs in a full 162-game season for the first time since 2013.

While the Reds are unlikely to come out on top, they do have a bona fide ace to throw Game 1 in Hunter Greene, and if they can take that game, anything can happen.

2025 MLB Postseason Bracket